2025 Central Missouri Catfish Tournaments Rules

- Entry Fee $200.00 per boat.  ($20 to big fish)  Except for Dalton High Stakes ($500) tournament.

- 6 rods-n-reels in use at any time (may have spares in boat). No alternative methods allowed.

- 1-4 adults (ages 16+) per boat (still 6 rods). Any number of children (ages 15 years and younger) allowed.

- Three fish weigh in for all tournaments. Blue cat, flathead, channel cat species.

- All fish must be alive at weigh-in.

- All fish must be released after weigh-in.  (CPR)

- All live wells must be checked at registration.

- No stringers allowed.

- Fish can be weighed in early. Early fish will be weighed, pictured, and released. Once weighed, fish count towards final weigh-in.

- No fishing within 50 yards of another boat.

- Paint sticks must be turned in by the designated time (not even 1 minute late) or boat is disqualified. If the tournament ends at 3:30 pm, we collect sticks through 3:30 pm and stop at 3:31 pm. If the tournament ends at 8:00 am, we collect sticks through 8:00 am and stop at 8:01 am.

- Day tournament hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

- Night tournament hours are 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. weather permitting.

- 85/15 Payout. $200 entry ($20 to big fish)

- Payout:   1st place – 50% of pot  2nd place – 30% of pot  3rd place – 20% of pot on all tournaments.

- Pre-Registration can be done on PayPal @ centralmissouricatfish@outlook.com when posted. Digital payments close at 12:00 pm the Friday before the tournament. Any registrations after 12:00 pm Friday must be paid in cash at the boat ramp to accommodate payout.

- In Person Registration starts 2 hours before take-off time. 

- No captains meeting. Questions can be answered at registration.

- Life jackets must be worn at launch.

- No trailering allowed. You may fish from any water you can reach by boat from the designated launch ramp.

- All conservation rules, state laws, and federal laws apply.

LAKE OZARK AND TRUMAN ONLY: 2 blues allowed over the slot (26”– 34”). Any number of blues allowed under the slot (3 fish weigh-in). No slot limit on channel cat or flathead species. 

- Any protests must be made before the awards ceremony begins. Any protests must be given to Shane Wyatt in writing. No protests will be considered or discussed after the awards ceremony.

- Central Missouri Catfish Tournaments and/or Shane Wyatt will not be responsible for any accidents, thefts, or damage at any tournament.